The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-07-09
THE COUNTRY EDITOR.
BI Mrs. ELLA BENrLEN'.

keau before the Louisiana Press Associa-
tion at Lake Charles, lane 10, 1887.
When the reading multitude shake
out the folds of the daily paper at their
early breakfast fable, aud settle thems
selves to imbibe certain amount of
mental pabulum with their matutinal
tea or coffee, does it ever occur to them
the labor devoted towards periecting
and completing the sheet they so care.
lessly regard:
Hours before, while they were WOO
ing the drowsy god, held III the en-
brace Of "natnre's sweet res,oser," the
editor labored that they might read.
The grandest Thespian artist who
fumes and struts upon u gliiiering
stage; the renowned orator who holds
his audience spell bound with "words
that burn and Thoughts that glow !"
tho eminent divine who paints his lis
tening congregation II realistic he'll,
have never so widespread aud a,tent-
i've an audience as the editor.
In palatial mansions, where iuxu' v
and wealth lie cradled the slums of
infamy, where degradation and pcsti-
lence abide; the city's ,,eeming mart,
the country's peace, thruugh tbs paper s
columns the voice o: :he editor falls ON
the ears of listening thousands.
The ials of journalism are probably
greater to the country editor than to
his brethren OF the city, who WELD An
undisputed sway over skilled force of
capable work men, and the perfect ion
of mans mcchanical genius. Tne
country editor is generally practical
4Asi int 4,f,
job-worker and pressman, having .as u
rule, less partial public than his met
ropolitan co'VaTfe, a public who expect
quarter-column puff, With copy of
the paper trOwn in, for II basket of
spring vegetables. Day after day he
clips, writes, complies, pastes, (and
what volume of vile jokes have
been launched at This defenseless
paste-peU; week after week his haudi-
work and brain-work visit the same
homes; year after year he makes his
mild rlaint at irresponsivc subscribers.
Personal trouble must cause no differ
ence in his duty. Does loved one lie
nt home listening with lhfohbing
heart for the rcien tes5 :ootstep of the
dark Angel Of Death; do trial and sul-
fering and sadness abide within his
door, he must still labor, "set up"
joke seen only through mist of tears,
and write congratulations on the new
blooming OF some little earthly flower,
when mayhap one of his own sweet
blossoms has been but lately rlucked
to ndorn the Ea den Of the gods.
He must be we'll info med in all
pertaining to the agricultural
and mineral products of the county;
an oracle on horse racing, base ball and
field sports generally; say nice things
whenever called upon, and bear II
maximum of everybody's burden of
trouble with ouiy u minimum OF their
pleasures; combine a SINAI itering OF the
arts, sciences, professions, trades and
caliings into one stupcndous whole,
aud there stands coniessed--Thc cou"-
try Editor.
His place Is one of serious responsi-
bility and grave duty-his paper the
medium of upholding morals and ex-
posing iniqnity; by vii, ,ue of his posi-
tion as keystone in the arch of a CONS
he must sometimes constitute
himself public prosecutor and drcry
the lax trial OF II hardened malefactor,
or take firm stand when the convic-
tion of a culprit will be but the judicial
recruiting OF tho ranks Of criminals.
He must accustom himself to dealing
with human nature as though it were
a doubtful drug and ho chemist, and
get used to transactions with people
who declare that charity begins at
home, and act a5 4 they let 1t end
there, too.
How much Of Knowledge, literature,
etc, would be forever unk nOwn
to the dWcllrrs in obscure villages, did
not the Country Editor dig such solid
chunks of information from out the, to
them, terra iDcDujijin Of The meiropOli-
tan dailies, and present them, Conccn-
trated, with original addends, 10 his
fellow ,ownsmen for the modest 81 pend
of "S2.00 year, payable in advance"
His working moments are iufringcd
upon by lady agents and Chv'ch fair
collectors al ibiittDJ, who look like
back numbers Of ancient history, and
take TO begging AZ naturally a5 if il
were their original sin which had never
been eliminated by baptism.
What wonder If his once firm ten per
will sometimes show f-ayed edge, az
though the sclvage had given away
under continual strain, because too
well he knows, that among the rank
and file Of his readers there are con
stanily enlisting volun eeFs, who are
anything but wefi-wisher5 who sncer
at his most labored leaders, look SOL
EMMY grave over his stray bits Of
jokes, brought forth in an agony Of
gnl frau ,a-:tt !,